X-ray machine moving device



y 1, 1943. M. A. MIKESH 2,318,701

X-RAY MACHINE MOVING DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1941 Fig.3

MARTIN A. MIKESH INV ENTOR BY ATTORNEYS Patented May 11, 1943 X-RAY MACHINE MOVING DEVICE Martin A. Mikesh, Lawrenceville, N. .L, assignor to The M. W. Kellogg Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 28, 1941, Serial No. 408,603

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a moving device for simply and accurately positioning a wheeled X-ray machine relative to the object to be tested.

In the X-ray testing of large metallic objects, such as the welded seams of plate, vessels, nozzles, and piping of the heavy construction industries, it is necessary to have comparably large supports for both the workpiece and the X-ray machine. Movement devices are usually provided for both the workpiece and the X-ray machine. It is with the latter that this invention is particularly concerned.

It is common present practice to mount the X-ray apparatus on a large wheeled vehicle having devices for steering the same, but not provided with a source of power for self-propulsion. In view of the relatively small amount of movement required after the apparatus has been wheeled to its general position for use, it has not been found practical from a cost standpoint to provide means for motive power. It has therefore been the practice to make the necessary changes in position by hand-pushing. Because of the extreme size and weight of the apparatus this has often required the efforts of several workmen. It will readily be appreciated that very exact positioning, or very slight movement of the apparatus, is extremely difficult under these conditions, many forward and reverse movements often being required for a single accurate positioning.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to devise a driving apparatus for providing Vernier-like movement of a wheeled X-ray machine, of practical and simple construction, combined with sturdiness for its intended use and low cost of manufacture.

A further object is to provide an efiicient handoperated driving device to be supported by an X-ray carriage frame and engageable with a wheel of the carriage to move the latter with otally mounted on the end of a shaft l0 attached to and extending from the side of frame 6.

Device 9 includes a housing having spaced, vertical, angle-iron members I I connected across their upper and lower ends by plates l2 and I3 respectively. Short pieces of angle-iron I4 are attached to the lower ends of vertical members I l. Aligned holes are provided in the pieces I4 to freely receive the shaft l0. Collars I5 on shaft l0 prevent endwise movement of the housing on the shaft.

A hand-crank I6 is mounted on one end of a driving shaft ll supported for rotation in journal blocks [8 attached on top of plate I2. A pinion l9 secured on the opposite end of driving shaft I! engages a gear 20 secured to one end of a driven shaft 2| supported for rotation in journal blocks 22 attached to the sides of vertical angle-iron members II. A friction-wheel 23 is securely mounted on shaft 2| between the upright members ll. Friction-wheel 23 engages the surface of a wheel 1. Wheel 23 is composed of, or at least surfaced with, a substance which will have a high coefficient of friction with the surface of wheel I. For example, I have obtained satisfactory results by using pneumatic rubber tires for the wheels of the X-ray carriage and forming the friction-wheel 23 of wood.

The housing of device 9 is rotated about shaft H) to bring the wheel 23 into, and release it from, driving engagement with the wheel 1 of the carriage. For this purpose a compression device is provided. A lug 24 centrally secured to the under side of plate [2 pivotally supports an internally threaded member 25. A screw 26 having a hand-knob 21 at one end is supported for free rotation in a side of an angle iron member 28 secured to, and extending from the side of, frame 6. Screw 26 cooperates with threaded member 25 to move friction-wheel 23 toward or away from wheel I. The pressure of wheel 23 against wheel 1 necessary to avoid excessive slippage is provided through this compression device.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple and efficient means for slowly I claim:

In combination with a portable X-ray machine having a frame and wheels supporting the same, a housing pivotally attached at its lower end to one side of said frame adjacent one of said wheels, an internally threaded member pivotally attached to the upper end of said housing, a feedscrew supported from said frame and adapted to rotate freely in its support, said feed-screw cooperating with said internally threaded member 10 to rotate said housing toward and away from said wheel, a crank-operated driving shaft and a driven shaft joumaled in said housing, a gear train connecting said shafts, and a. frictionwheel secured to said driven shaft, said frictionwheel being movable into and out of operating engagement with the periphery of said wheel by means of said feed-screw.

MARTIN A. MIKESH. 

